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Anthony St Clair

The Martini of Destiny

Synopsis

One drink changed everything. Influencing a man's fate should have been another day behind the bar. Bartender Jake Hongkong has served The Management longer than any other Jake or Jade, but now he doubts his role influencing people’s destinies and decisions. Declan is directionless and scared when he comes to the pub, yet one drink is all it takes to give him the courage to make a life-altering decision. Deeply shaken by something he wasn't meant to see, Jake doubts more than ever, and consequences ripple through destiny and the world. Soon one martini will forever alter lives and fates... especially Jake's and Declan’s.
** A Rucksack Universe Fantasy Novella **
This riveting fantasy novella is part of the Rucksack Universe series, the exciting world of wit, adventure, and beer that fans call “buoyant with a unique humor, twist and focus on international travel,” and “perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.”

Author Biography

Fantasy author and beer writer Anthony St. Clair has walked with hairy coos in the Scottish Highlands, choked on seafood in Australia, and watched the full moon rise over Mt. Everest in Tibet. The creator of the Rucksack Universe series, Anthony has traveled the sights and beers of Thailand, Japan, India, Canada, Ireland, the USA, Cambodia, China and Nepal. He and his wife live in Eugene, Oregon, and gave their kids passports when they were babies. Learn more at www.anthonystclair.com.

Author Insight

How did we get here?

As I write this in June 2018, it's been 5 years since the release of my first Rucksack Universe book, THE MARTINI OF DESTINY. This story sets in motion so many things.
Among them, the story brings up so many questions about my mysterious hero, Rucksack. What was his role in The Blast? Why does he only wear one glove? What is the mistake he's trying to find redemption for?
Will he find that redemption?
We'll soon get to find out more of the puzzle that is Rucksack, the world's only Himalayan-Irish sage, hero o' old and hero o' now. On Oct. 19, 2018, I'm releasing WANDER. The next Rucksack Universe novel serves as a sort of prequel. Set 100 years after The Blast scoured England and Ireland, it's an adventure like nothing I've written before or like you've seen in the Rucksack Universe--or anywhere else.
Wanderer, you can learn more about the story here. It's going to be quite a ride:
anthonystclair.com/wander

Book Excerpt

The Martini of Destiny

“What happened to your hand?”

For a moment the man said nothing. “A boring story concealed by a far more fascinating glove,” he finally said. “But that pelican got as good as he gave.” He glanced at Jake’s fingers. “Nice bit o’ rock,” said the man, pint raised in his right hand. “I used to be able to do that trick too. Where’d you get that fine piece o’ stone?”

“Same place you had it out with that pelican,” Jake replied. “Here.” He didn’t know what made him do it, but something, some smugness in the man’s face made Jake flick the stone through the air. The man’s left hand shot up to grab it, but his fingers jerked, and the rock collided with his fingertips. The smug fell off the man’s face. The stone clattered onto the bar, spinning on the polished wood before coming to a rest between the two men.

The man looked at his fingers, stretched like claws as he slowly lowered his arm. The left hand seemed so much smaller than the right, Jake realized.

“I made a big mistake once,” said the man, looking away from Jake and into his glass.

“We all make mistakes,” said Jake, looking at the stone. “No matter what we do, sometimes all we wonder is what mistake we made once, which one we’re making now, and which we’ll make over and over.”

The man chuckled. “Some mistakes are much bigger than others. Bigger than those who make them. Damn near bigger than the whole world.” He drank the last of his stout, then looked Jake in the eye. “I’m looking for something I lost when I made my mistake. I’m trying to find my way back to it.”